Selected overseas tech “trailblazers” working at promising UK startups will be able to claim reimbursement of visa fees as part of a package of measures announced by the UK government today, as it looks to ramp up its appeal as a destination for startups amid simmering tensions between Europe and the US over Greenland. Chancellor Rachel Reeves today pitched Britain as a haven of stability as the government looks to attract the brightest minds in AI, clean energy and life sciences, in a speech in front of businesses and global investors at the World Economic Forum at Davos. The speech comes amid increasingly frosty relations between the US and European countries, including the UK, which follows President Trump's threat of tariffs on countries not backing a US takeover of Greenland. The package of measures includes reimbursement of visa fees for “select trailblazers” in deep tech and those joining the most promising UK firms in priority sectors, the government said. The government said researchers and academics in sectors like AI, quantum computing and semiconductors will benefit from visa fee reimbursements, so they can more easily come to the UK. The UK government did not respond to a request for more details about the reimbursement fees. The government also said new scholarships to study at UK universities will be made available for international maths Olympiad gold medalists. Global firms will also find it quicker to expand in Britain via a new offer to fast-track their sponsor licences, it said. Other measures unveiled by the government include increased resources behind its Global Talent Task Force, which will bring in specialist private sector head-hunting expertise, as the government looks to encourage more top tech talent to relocate to the UK. Reeves said: "In a volatile world, Britain stands out. This government is making sure Britain is home to the stability, talent and capital that businesses and investors want and that drives greater growth. "Some countries give you a platform, but Britain gives you momentum. My message at Davos this week is clear: choose Britain – it’s the best place in the world to invest." Business and trade secretary, Peter Kyle, who is also part of the UK delegation in Davos, said: "We are positioning the UK as the destination of choice for the brightest minds and innovators as we strive to lead the global race for talent. “By attracting leaders in AI, quantum, life sciences, and clean energy, we will drive growth, innovation, and make the UK the premier launchpad for the world’s best entrepreneurs." IMAGE: PEXELS

European food retail is undergoing a structural reset — and it’s creating real pull for startups. AI is moving from experimentation to infrastructure, reshaping everything from demand forecasting and inventory optimisation to personalised offers and pricing, and giving young companies clear entry points into core retail operations. At the same time, sustainability and health have become commercial imperatives. Retailers are actively seeking solutions for waste reduction, low-impact supply chains, smarter packaging, and nutrition-led innovation, supported by digital-first marketing and hybrid store formats. For agrifood startups that can show measurable impact and ROI, Europe’s retail market is competitive — but full of opportunity. However, market entry is challenging for agritech and foodtech startups. Foodtech startups typically begin with pilots: limited volumes, regional trials, or proof-of-concept deployments. Retailers, meanwhile, operate at a massive scale through long sales cycles and expect consistent supply across many stores, as well as predictable pricing and logistics. Food retail runs on notoriously tight margins, which makes buyers cautious about adding operational complexity or increasing unit costs. In response, EITFood has developed Straight2Market (S2M), a program targeting agritech startups. What is Straight to Market? S2M is an acceleration and innovation programme led by EIT Food, designed to fast-track the validation, commercialisation, and market entry of innovative food solutions, directly connecting startups and entrepreneurs with major European retailers. It helps startups understand retailer requirements around scale, pricing and operations, while allowing retailers to explore new, sustainability-driven solutions with reduced risk. The result is a faster, more realistic pathway from innovation to shelf— benefiting both sides of the food value chain. What does the programme offer? For startups and entrepreneurs, S2M offers a practical route to market readiness, combining real-world consumer testing with direct feedback to refine and adapt products, financial support of up to €30,000 to develop or validate an MVP, and the opportunity to run proof-of-concept pilots with leading European retailers. It helps de-risk commercialisation and accelerate progress from prototype to shelf. Retailers, in turn, gain cost-effective access to disruptive innovation focused on sustainability, technology, and supply chain efficiency. ​ Turning open innovation into reality In 2025 alone, the programme supported 15 startups, helping them refine and validate their technologies and products in real retail environments. ​  S2M also engaged four major retailers — Eroski, Migros, Ametller Origen and Sonae — all of whom firmly believe in open innovation and in partnering with entrepreneurs to accelerate change. ​ Each startup received €30,000 to enhance and adapt their solutions, while each participating supermarket benefited from €15,000 to implement the necessary in-store modifications to commercialise the products effectively. ​ Take a look at the participants: Eroski partnered with:   ​ Triwuu is a digital platform that connects consumers directly with local producers, offering fresh, sustainably sourced food through curated boxes of fruits, vegetables, and artisanal products selected for quality and low environmental impact. By reducing intermediaries, the platform improves traceability, supports local economies, and promotes more responsible consumption. ​ Remolonas fights food waste by giving a second life to “imperfect” fruits and vegetables and edible production surpluses through flexible weekly or biweekly subscription boxes of seasonal fresh produce. By redirecting food that would otherwise be discarded, the model helps reduce emissions, resource use, and unnecessary waste across the supply chain.   ​ Image: Remolonas. Iztueta is a family-owned producer of artisanal dairy products, made using fresh milk from its own cows raised in a sustainable farming environment. Its range includes natural yoghurts, ice creams, and farm milk, all crafted with traditional methods and high-quality ingredients that prioritise freshness, provenance, and taste. ​ Barrenetxea is an agricultural cooperative producing traditional Basque vegetables since 1980, with a strong focus on sustainable farming practices and freshness. Its offering centres on seasonal vegetables and greens harvested at peak ripeness and delivered in assorted baskets, many carrying the Eusko Label certification for quality and origin. ​ Migros Up teamed up with:   ​ Yummate is reimagining healthy snacking with vegan, gluten-free, protein-rich products designed for health-conscious consumers. Its flagship offering is baked Chickpea Puffs made from chickpea flour, available in flavours such as vegan cheese, sweet corn, and peanut, combining nutrition with everyday convenience. ​ Image: Yummate. Artisan Candy specialises in gourmet confections crafted with natural ingredients and traditional methods. Its signature product, Sea Salt Caramel Candy, pairs rich, buttery caramel with Fleur de Sel to deliver a refined, premium taste experience. ​ Hubixos crafts functional beverages designed to support energy and overall wellness. Developed by PatiLabs, the brand offers health-oriented drinks enriched with functional ingredients such as vitamins and adaptogens, targeting consumers seeking everyday performance and balance. In addition: Sonae matched with Tetis Biotech, a marine biotechnology company transforming aquaculture by-products into sustainable, high-value functional ingredients. Its snacks include marine collagen and “Seanacks” rich in protein, collagen, and omega-3, all produced through eco-friendly processes that support circular bioeconomy principles. ​ Ametller Origen partnered with Genky Innovations, which develops functional foods inspired by longevity and circularity, using antioxidant-rich ingredients to support healthy ageing. Through its Eternal Foods range, the company upcycles wine industry by-products to deliver resveratrol and more than 30 antioxidants in products designed for everyday wellness. ​ Image: Genky Innovations. According to Izaskun Valle, Business Innovation Project Manager at EITFood, leading the Straight2Market programme throughout 2024 and 2025 has been an incredibly rewarding and transformative experience. ​ “Working closely with retailers and startups has enabled me to drive innovation, foster strategic collaboration, and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the agrifood ecosystem.“ Valle concludes: “Once again, Straight2Market highlights the transformative impact that collaboration can have on shaping the future of food. The programme helps companies test their solutions in real-world facilities to improve their projects before launching them on the market. " By backing these businesses, EIT Food not only drives innovation but also helps strengthen a more connected, resilient,  and sustainable European food system. ​  To learn more about the programme, visit the S2M website to explore how startups and retailers can collaborate to pilot, validate, and scale innovation in real retail environments. Lead image: Freepik.

German robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) provider NEOintralogistics has closed a €3 million seed funding round, led by the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund with participation from Cetus Holding. The need for accessible automation solutions continues to grow. While automation can deliver significant operational cost savings, adoption has been constrained by high upfront investment requirements. As a result, many warehouses worldwide continue to operate manually, with cost barriers limiting automation primarily to large operators. NEOintralogistics aims to address this gap by making warehouse automation more affordable, scalable, and faster to deploy. Its robotic picking system is designed for both brownfield and greenfield warehouses and can be implemented within weeks rather than months or years. Through a pay-per-pick model, automation shifts from a capital expenditure to a flexible, performance-based service. Michael Drodofsky, co-founder of NEOintralogistics, said the company is focused on reducing the cost and complexity that have traditionally limited access to warehouse automation. Our RaaS model removes the need for costly infrastructure or warehouse redesigns, allowing customers to integrate the system into existing shelving and realise efficiency gains more quickly, Drodofsky added. The company’s solution is designed to be more flexible and cost-efficient than traditional automation systems and can significantly reduce reliance on manual labour. NEOintralogistics is already working with industry partners, including Magazino, Jungheinrich, GLS, and BITO. Commenting on the investment, Tim Hos, Associate at APEX Ventures, said NEOintralogistics has developed a scalable approach by replacing high upfront costs and complex integration with a recurring Robotics-as-a-Service model. He noted that this shift improves the underlying economics of intralogistics and supports broader market adoption. The funding will be used to support commercial expansion and customer acquisition, further product development, growth of research and development capabilities, and team expansion, particularly in engineering and operations.

French accounting software platform Pennylane has raised $200m in a funding round, but says it had no immediate need for the fresh funds.   The Series E round was led by growth investor TCV, a new investor, with new investor Blackstone Growth and existing investors, including Sequoia, DST Global and the venture arm of Alphabet, CapitalG, also participating.   The funding round values Pennylane at around $4.25bn, according to a report in Bloomberg, but Tech.eu was not able to verify this.   Founded in 2020, Pennylane is a financial management and accounting platform for startups, SMEs, and their accountants across Europe.   It sells itself as an “all-in-one” accounting and financial management platform that centralises the financial function of businesses and their accountants in one shared workspace, enabling them to work closer together. Arthur Waller, co-founder and CEO of Pennylane, said: “We had no immediate need for funding, but the opportunity to partner with investors like TCV and Blackstone with low dilution was a strategic advantage. This gives us the resources to stay fully independent while accelerating our lead in AI and expanding across Europe. Our mission remains unchanged: being the reference tool for accountants and their clients." Pennylane says it will use the funding to increase its R&D investment, including fine-tuning its product in Germany, where it recently launched, and improving its payment and cash management offering.   Last year, Pennylane raised €75m in a funding round co-led by Sequoia, Alphabet’s CapitalG, and Meritech Capital Partners, while the year before it raised €40 million in a Series C.

Munich-based Orbem, a deeptech company applying artificial intelligence to magnetic resonance imaging to analyse food and biological systems, has closed a €55.5 million Series B financing round. The round was led by Innovation Industries, with participation from Supernova Invest and follow-on investments from existing backers, including General Catalyst, 83North, The Venture Collective, Possible Ventures, and a group of angel investors. Orbem applies artificial intelligence to industrialise magnetic resonance imaging, enabling fast, scalable, and non-invasive analysis of biological materials. Its platform generates actionable insights from biological data to support decision-making across agriculture, food production, and health. The technology provides access to information that was previously unavailable at an industrial scale, such as determining embryo sex in eggs, evaluating seed viability, or assessing produce quality without destructive testing. With proven applications in the poultry industry, Orbem’s solutions help improve efficiency, reduce waste, and increase transparency across biological value chains. Its flagship product, Genus Focus, uses AI-enabled MRI to determine the sex of a poultry egg non-invasively in under one second, providing an alternative to the culling of male chicks, a practice restricted in parts of the European Union. To date, the system has been used to scan more than 170 million eggs, and the company is expanding capacity to meet growing international demand. Building on this foundation, Orbem has introduced Genus Scale, a solution designed to assess egg fertilisation status before incubation. This allows hatcheries to identify non-viable eggs early, reduce inefficiencies, and redirect suitable eggs for food use. The Series B funding will support Orbem’s expansion into the United States, further scaling of its poultry solutions, and entry into the fruit and vegetable sector using non-destructive quality analysis. The company will also continue developing healthcare applications based on large-scale biological data.

The UK government-backed British Business Bank (BBB) is taking a £25m stake in Kraken Technologies, the software entity being spun out of Octopus Energy, marking the bank's biggest ever direct investment into a private firm. Octopus Energy sold a $1bn stake in Kraken last month to a syndicate of investors, paving the way for its demerger from Octopus Energy and a possible stock market flotation in the future.   Octopus Energy founder and chief executive Greg Jackson told the BBC there was "every chance" Kraken would list its shares "in the medium term", with the location of the flotation "between London and the US".   A press release from the Department for Business & Trade, detailing the £25m investment from the economic development bank, mentioned that Kraken, which has 70m customers, “may list in London" following its split from Octopus Energy.   Peter Kyle, the UK business secretary, told the FT that the government investment in Kraken was part of a move to keep it based in the UK.   Kraken leverages AI to automate customer service and billing for energy firms, making it easier to manage customer billing, smart meters and home batteries.  The investment from the BBB in Kraken, valued at $8.65bn last month, follows last year’s reforms to the BBB, which saw its funding capacity upped from £15.6bn to £25.6bn, which means that it can scale up the direct investment arm of the bank.   The BBB is also investing £50 million each into two deep tech funds: Epidarex Capital and IQ Capital. Jackson said: “Over the past decade, we’ve built Kraken from zero into a true powerhouse.    "It now plays in a league of its own and is ready to spin out of Octopus – and with backing from world-class investors like the British Business Bank and Octopus Ventures, it’s poised to grow even faster and cement its position as a UK-founded, UK-funded success story.” Jordan Cummins, UK competitiveness director, Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said: “Cutting red tape and helping businesses scale-up is central to our collective growth mission. "This latest package from government is therefore a good step on the journey to helping the growing firms of today become the global leaders of tomorrow. Maximising the catalytic role of the British Business Bank and making big bets on battery technology are smart moves to keep the UK competitive."

Last week, we tracked more than 80 tech funding deals worth over €1 billion, and over 15 exits, M&A transactions, rumours, and related news stories across Europe.Click to read the rest of the news.

Berlin-based GeneralMind, an AI-based system focused on automating operational and coordination tasks in supply-chain environments, has closed a $12 million equity financing round. The round was led by Lakestar, Leo Capital, LucidCapital, Heliad, and BOOOM, with additional participation from angel investors including Alexander Kudlich, Jens Urbaniak, and Samir Sood. Many enterprises continue to rely on legacy systems of record, such as ERP platforms, to manage transactions and data. However, operational execution is often handled manually, with teams coordinating work across email, spreadsheets, and other disconnected tools to manage exceptions and handovers within supply chains. While these systems reliably store information, they typically do not support task execution or the unstructured coordination required between functions such as procurement, logistics, finance, and external partners. As a result, email frequently functions as an informal task management layer, leading to manual processes, limited visibility, and higher error rates. GeneralMind is addressing this gap by developing an AI-based system of action for operational execution. Its AI Autopilot is designed to automate repetitive work at supply-chain handover points by executing workflows across email, spreadsheets, and ERP systems. Tasks, often initiated through email, are captured, interpreted, and carried through to completion. This approach is intended for environments with high volumes of recurring tasks, strict deadlines or compliance requirements, and multiple internal and external stakeholders, such as sales operations, procurement, and invoice processing. Inefficiencies resulting from fragmented, inbox-driven workflows can lead to delays, missed actions, and reduced operational performance across supply chains. Commenting on this challenge, Tushar Ahluwalia, founder and CEO of GeneralMind, said that while organisations are often aware of where operational issues arise, they frequently struggle to translate that understanding into effective execution. Drawing on his experience in e-commerce, Ahluwalia added that manual, email- and spreadsheet-based processes and complex coordination between unstructured communication and ERP systems create significant inefficiencies in large organisations, noting that GeneralMind is designed to run these processes end to end through a human-supervised AI autopilot rather than acting as a productivity copilot. The funding was completed within the company’s first months of operation and will be used to support the scaling of GeneralMind’s technology across Europe.

Paris-based Stoïk has completed a €20 million Series C funding round co-led by Impala, which joins as a new investor, and Opera Tech Ventures, an existing investor. Current investors Alven and Andreessen Horowitz also participated in the round. Stoïk is a European insurtech focused on cyber risk coverage for companies with revenues of up to €1 billion. Founded in 2021 by Jules Veyrat, Alexandre Andreini, Nicolas Sayer, and Philippe Mangematin, the company provides an integrated cyber risk protection model that combines insurance with active prevention and response capabilities. The company supports small and medium-sized enterprises before, during, and after cyber incidents, helping them maintain operations, limit financial losses, and recover effectively. Its approach is based on an AI-enabled 360-degree model that integrates cyber insurance, risk prevention and detection, and in-house incident response teams, increasingly supported by proprietary AI agents. Stoïk operates across several European markets, including France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Austria, and Luxembourg. Nearly five years after its launch, the company works with more than 2,000 broker partners, protects over 10,000 businesses, and employs more than 130 specialists across six European countries, reflecting its expanding presence in the European cyber risk market. Commenting on the funding, Jules Veyrat, CEO and co-founder of Stoïk, said the company’s recent performance reflects a disciplined business model and careful financial management. He noted that the round was sized to support the next phase of growth without exceeding operational needs and that the new capital will be used to further scale the company’s existing model and invest in proprietary AI agents that underpin its prevention, detection, and incident response capabilities. The new funding will support continued development of Stoïk’s cybersecurity and insurance offerings, further international expansion with a focus on Central and Southern Europe, and ongoing investment in advanced AI technologies.

Stockholm-based Stilla has emerged from stealth with $5 million in pre-seed funding to develop an intelligence layer designed to support collaboration between humans and AI within product teams. The round was led by General Catalyst, with participation from a group of angel investors. As organisations accelerate the adoption of AI across workflows, coordination has become an increasing challenge. Information is often distributed across tools and teams, while individual productivity continues to rise. Fragmented context, time-intensive alignment processes, and the parallel use of multiple AI agents can make it difficult for organisations to maintain a shared view of priorities and progress. Stilla is designed to address these challenges by providing an infrastructure layer for collaboration. Rather than operating as an individual AI assistant, the platform connects core workplace tools (including Slack, Linear, GitHub, and Notion) to maintain a continuously updated understanding of what teams are working on, why decisions are made, and how work progresses. By distributing relevant context across teams and AI systems, Stilla aims to support coordinated execution as organisations scale. The company was founded by Siavash Ghorbani and Kaj Drobin, who previously contributed to the development of Shop and Shop Pay at Shopify. Commenting on the shift toward organisations where both people and AI systems contribute to decision-making, Ghorbani said: Without real-time shared context, speed creates chaos. Getting everyone aligned — humans and AI alike — is now the single biggest unlock for companies. Stilla is already in use at companies including Spotify, Ramp, Lovable, and Legora. Anton Osika, CEO of Lovable, described the platform as an early indication of how work may evolve, noting that it captures context automatically and translates it into coordinated action. Legora CEO Max Junestrand added that in AI-driven environments, speed is essential, and said Stilla helps reduce communication overhead by maintaining alignment across teams, likening it to an AI-enabled chief of staff. The company plans to use the capital to further build its core infrastructure, enabling better coordination between human teams and AI agents as organisations scale their use of AI. The funding will also support continued integration with existing workplace systems and the expansion of the platform’s capabilities based on early adoption by product teams. 

Cancilico, an AI diagnostics startup specialising in blood cancer, has raised €2.5 million in Seed funding.  The Dresden healthtech startup was founded in 2023 as a spin-off of the EKFZ for Digital Health at TUD Dresden, University of Technology, and University Hospital Dresden.  The company develops AI-driven diagnostic solutions for haematology to automate and improve the accuracy of blood and bone marrow analysis.  The founding team includes Markus Badstübner, Dr Moritz Middeke, Tim Schmittmann, Sebastian Riechert, Dr Jan Eckardt, Dr Karsten Wendt, and Angel Investor Prof. Gerhard Ehninger. Its MyeloAID uses advanced AI to analyse bone marrow samples with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The technology can be implemented on any standard imaging microscope or scanner, allowing laboratories to upgrade their current diagnostic capabilities without replacing existing hardware infrastructure.  The underlying data model for Cancilico’s AI diagnosis is based on a large, validated dataset of various malignancies, as well as data from healthy individuals.  Partnerships with haematopathology centres further enhance the data model, and cooperation with pharma partners has yielded initial results in accelerating the development of biomarkers and therapeutic options for haematological malignancies."We are facing a global shortage of haematologists, yet the complexity of diagnostic cases is rising," said Markus Badstübner, CEO and Co-Founder of Cancilico.  "Our goal is to democratise access to expert-level diagnostics. This investment allows us to navigate the FDA and CE-IVDR regulatory landscapes and bring a tool to market that integrates seamlessly with existing lab hardware to improve patient outcomes without heavy capital expenditure." The investment was led by a strong consortium comprising High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), TGFS - Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen, GEDAD GmbH (an investment vehicle of the Ehninger family), and ROI Verwaltungsgesellschaft (Roland Oetker). "We are convinced to invest in a winning team and a superior technology that has already gained commercial traction with its 'Research Use Only' data models," said Dr Jörg Traub, Principal at HTGF.  "The team combines entrepreneurial spirit with deep technical and clinical knowledge. Cancilico has established a convincing AI model using training data that includes not only diseased patient samples but also healthy datasets, allowing for better and faster classification." The funding will accelerate Cancilico’s mission to establish its AI-based diagnostic software MyeloAID as a routine tool to improve the standard of care for blood cancer patients worldwide and to accelerate digital biomarker development in haematological malignancies.

A Munich-based drone maker, backed by Lakestar, has come out of stealth, trumpeting its sovereign defence production credentials. Called Twentyfour Industries, the startup, incorporated in late 2024, has raised $11.8m from Lakestar, OTB Ventures, and 468 Capital.  It says it has moved from product design to production and field deployment of European drones in less than a year. The startup, which produces and designs drones, says it has manufactured and deployed hundreds of units of its first product, a 10-inch “cost-efficient, mass-manufacturable” quadcopter drone, which, it says, is now being operated daily by European soldiers. The startup also says it has signed contracts generating revenues across multiple countries. The startup is touting its European sovereign credentials. It says: “Modern warfare increasingly depends on unmanned systems at scale to deter aggression and defend democratic societies. "Today, Europe lacks sovereign drone production capacity and has too few trained operators – leaving the continent dependent on vulnerable supply chains, foreign components, and external know-how. Twentyfour Industries was founded to close this critical capability gap." The startup's announcement comes amid President Trump threatening tariffs on countries not backing a US takeover of Greenland. Asked about the importance of being Munich-based, a spokesperson for the startup said: "The core team is based in Munich, where we operate our office and conduct day-to-day engineering, operations, and execution. "Munich, of course, is an important hub for the European tech and defence space, with an excellent ecosystem across industries." Asked which countries are using its drones, the spokesperson said: "Beyond confirming active use by European customers, we won’t go into further detail." The spokesperson also would not divulge details regarding contracts. Clemens Kürten, co-founder and CEO, said: “Our mission is clear – enable European and allied partners with an end-to-end approach: product, training, and life-cycle management. We are building the organisational and industrial muscle to design, manufacture, and deliver unmanned systems faster, more reliably, and at better economics than anyone else in Europe.” Erik Linden, co-founder and chief commercial officer, said: “From day one, our focus has been prioritising execution over complexity and proving capability through delivery. By working directly with operators in the field, we ensure every product iteration is driven by real-world needs – enabling us to move faster and deliver more value to our customers.”

The Isle of Man Government has officially launched its National AI Office (NAIO) digitalisleofman.com/naio, a new function designed to help the Island harness AI in a practical, sustainable and responsible way. This marks a significant step in establishing a clear, coordinated national approach to the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence. Backed by a £1 million government investment, NAIO will serve as the Island’s single point of national coordination for AI adoption across government, industry, and the wider economy. This builds on the success of the Isle of Man’s Activate AI initiative,a programme supporting businesses with tools and training on AI. In 2025 alone, the Activate AI programme generated an estimated £2 million in productivity savings, demonstrating the value of a coordinated approach to AI adoption across the Government, economy, and society. NAIO brings together existing functions and expertise, led by Digital Isle of Man, an executive agency in the Department for Enterprise supporting tech businesses, which will be centred on advancing economic growth, improving public sector efficiency through AI-enabled services, and building AI literacy across society. The National AI Office will focus on six key deliverables in the first year: Developing a national AI strategy, shaped by government, industry and community input. Delivering a coordinated AI literacy programme, supporting people and businesses to use AI responsibly, build capability and understand risk. Accelerating practical AI adoption across the economy to help businesses improve productivity, scale and competitiveness. Providing clear guidance for safe and responsible AI use, supporting ethical, secure deployment and building public trust. Driving AI-enabled improvement in public services,delivering services that are faster, simpler and more cost-effective. Supporting a future-ready workforce through reskilling opportunities and expanded access to AI training and expertise. Chief Minister, Alfred Cannan MHK, commented:  “There is no doubt that artificial intelligence is already transforming our economy and society. The National AI Office will enable us to respond to that change in collaboration with industry, recognising that public and private sectors must work in lockstep if we are to realise the full benefits of this rapid technological change. That same principle is central to our wider Efficiencies Programme. We are serious about reform, and AI must be part of how we deliver faster, simpler and more cost-effective services for our community.” According to the Minister for Enterprise, Tim Johnston MHK, the National AI Office brings together existing functions, resources, skills and expertise into a focused operating model that builds on strong foundations already in place. “Digital Isle of Man has already delivered free AI training and AI solutions support to thousands of people through its Activate AI programme, and this is a natural next step, taking a more coordinated, strategic approach to harnessing AI for the benefit of our community, our economy and the way government operates. Our initial £1 million investment will be focused on delivering the six priority areas over the first 12 months, making best use of the resources, partnerships and capability we already have, while laying the groundwork for long-term impact and productivity gains felt right across the economy.”

Belfast-based sports technology company TeamFeePay has completed a £9 million equity funding round to support expansion into new markets and planned recruitment. The round was led by investments from YFM Equity Partners and the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland (IFNI), managed by Clarendon Fund Managers. Additional participation came from Techstart and a group of private investors. TeamFeePay was founded in 2021 by Liam McStravick, drawing on more than two decades of experience in grassroots coaching at clubs including Cliftonville, Linfield, and Ballyclare Comrades. The company was established in response to the administrative demands faced by coaches, such as managing player fees, which can reduce time available for coaching. The company has developed a software platform that supports grassroots football clubs and coaches with fixture planning, training sessions, event management, attendance tracking, and administrative tasks, helping teams stay organised while allowing coaches to focus on on-field activities. Commenting on the investment, Liam McStravick, CEO and co-founder of TeamFeePay, said the funding will support the company’s plans to modernise the operational side of grassroots football across the UK, Ireland, and Europe by reducing administrative workloads and helping clubs operate more sustainably. Over the next two years, we will be increasing our presence on the ground, investing in new technology, and continuing to improve the service and club development support provided by our expert team, McStravick added. TeamFeePay plans to use the new investment to support growth across the UK, expand further into Europe, and advance product development. The strategy also includes the creation of up to 75 new roles over the next two years across the UK and Europe, spanning sales, marketing, and product development functions.

The Tech.eu Summit London 2026 is set to take place on 21–22 April at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, bringing together leaders from the global startup and investment ecosystem. Over two days, the event will host in-depth discussions, high-level networking opportunities and collaborative sessions, placing London once again at the centre of Europe’s technology landscape. There are only two days left to secure Super Early Bird tickets for the Tech.eu Summit London 2026. This discounted ticket tier is approaching its deadline, after which pricing will move to the next phase. Super Early Bird Tickets Available Until 21 January 2026 On 21 January 2026, Super Early Bird tickets will transition to the Early Bird ticket phase. Currently, Super Early Bird tickets are available for £375 + VAT. After 21 January, the price will increase to £400 + VAT under the Early Bird category. Planning to attend with colleagues or friends? Group ticket options are also available during the Super Early Bird phase, offering reduced per-person pricing compared to individual tickets. These group rates will be updated in line with the new Early Bird pricing after 21 January. The Tech.eu Summit London 2026 will bring together founders, investors, executives and policymakers from across Europe and beyond. The programme will feature keynote sessions, panel discussions and curated networking opportunities focused on topics such as artificial intelligence, fintech, SaaS, sustainability and emerging technologies. Attendees can also download the Tech.eu Events app via the App Store and Google Play to start connecting ahead of the summit. The app enables participants to browse attendee profiles, arrange meetings, explore the full agenda and manage their schedule in advance. It will also be used for fast and easy on-site access through QR code check-in. Get your tickets today! Secure your ticket today and take advantage of the current pricing while it lasts. Prices will increase after 21 January, so now is the best time to confirm your attendance. Join us at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre on 21–22 April for two days of insight, networking and collaboration with some of the most influential voices in technology and investment. We look forward to welcoming you in London.

Ananda Impact Ventures has completed a €73 million first close of its fifth Core Impact Fund, exceeding its €50 million target and representing the largest first close in the firm’s 16-year history. The fund is backed by a mix of returning and new investors, including the European Investment Fund (EIF), NRW.BANK, Investcorp-Tages, Mercator Foundation, and more than 40 family offices across Europe. Founded in 2009, Ananda Impact Ventures is a European impact venture capital firm focused on early-stage, technology-driven startups addressing social and environmental challenges. The firm manages €270 million across five funds and invests in areas such as climate, healthcare, biodiversity, and social inclusion. Ananda V continues this strategy, focusing on early-stage technologies aimed at addressing long-term societal and environmental challenges across Europe. Over sixteen years and four prior funds, Ananda has established a track record in impact investing, including the successful return of its first fund to investors. The fifth fund builds on this experience with a long-term investment perspective. Ananda’s investment strategy emphasises systems-level thinking rather than a narrow sector focus. Drawing on its experience since 2009, the firm views major human, social, and environmental challenges as interconnected and more effectively addressed through integrated approaches rather than isolated solutions. This perspective underpins Ananda’s focus on interdisciplinary business models designed to deliver both long-term impact and sustainable returns. This approach is reflected in Ananda’s portfolio, which includes European founders addressing structural societal and environmental challenges. The firm has backed companies such as OroraTech, IESO, and NatureMetrics, as well as investments spanning biology-enabled industry, nature-informed healthcare, and education-driven entrepreneurship through Differential Bio, Resistomap, and OneDay. Commenting on the fundraise, co-founder Johannes Weber said that Ananda’s strategy reflects a commitment to independent thinking and alignment with founder values, noting that consistency in approach has helped differentiate the firm amid shifting venture capital trends. Co-founder Florian Erber added that Ananda has built a multidisciplinary team with expertise spanning science, engineering, and entrepreneurship, enabling the firm to assess challenges at a systems level and engage deeply with founders. Through its fifth fund, Ananda Impact Ventures aims to continue supporting European founders developing scalable, technology-driven solutions to interconnected social and environmental challenges.

UK-based deeptech startup Anzen Industries has raised $2.2 million in pre-seed funding, led by LocalGlobe and Creator Fund, with participation from strategic angel investors across the UK, EU, and US, including Konstantin von Unger and early-stage investor Cory Levy. Founded by scientists Amy Locks and Pedro Lovatt Garcia, Anzen Industries is a biomanufacturing company focused on producing high-value chemicals using cell-free enzyme systems. The company develops reusable, low-infrastructure enzyme reactors designed to manufacture complex molecules more efficiently than traditional chemical synthesis, plant extraction, or fermentation-based methods. Its goal is to improve the resilience, scalability, and economic viability of global supply chains for critical chemicals across multiple industries. Anzen’s platform combines proprietary enzyme reactor technology, enzyme immobilisation techniques, and AI-driven design to enable biochemical reactions outside living cells. This first-principles approach allows highly specific and tunable enzymes to operate within small, modular reactors, supporting more flexible and cost-effective scaling while reducing reliance on capital-intensive infrastructure. Co-founder and CTO Pedro Lovatt Garcia outlined the company’s technical vision, saying: We started Anzen Industries because we believe that, from first principles, the future of manufacturing will be cell-free. If enzymes can be kept robust outside of the cell, we can carry out the same manufacturing reactions at a fraction of the infrastructure, energy and cost. Existing approaches to manufacturing complex chemicals face several constraints. Organic synthesis can be difficult to scale, plant extraction depends on variable agricultural supply, and fermentation typically requires significant infrastructure and downstream processing, leading to high capital costs. Anzen’s cell-free system is designed to address these limitations by improving efficiency and shortening time to market. Commenting on the investment, Julia Hawkins, General Partner at LocalGlobe, said Anzen is rethinking how critical molecules are produced from first principles, to improve speed, resilience, and control across global supply chains. CEO and co-founder Amy Locks highlighted the role of Europe’s scientific ecosystem in the company’s early development, noting: Europe’s strong scientific heritage and innovation community allowed us to take our breakthrough from scientific discovery to a viable commercial venture. She added that the United States offers an environment well-suited to the company’s next phase of growth, as Anzen looks to scale its technology globally. The company plans to use the funding to relocate operations to the United States, establish its first manufacturing facility, and expand industrial collaborations and partnerships as it scales its biomanufacturing platform.

It’s not often I meet an early-stage investor who tells me that they are looking for “weird and crazy ideas.” But Andreas Klinger, founder of PROTOTYPE,  is not just any investor. He is deeply embedded in Europe’s tech ecosystem as an early-stage investor and former founder and operator, having served as CTO at Product Hunt, VP Engineering at CoinList, Head of Remote at AngelList, and CTO at On Deck — and as a tireless advocate for Europe’s startup ecosystem through EU-Inc. But for Klinger, investing in people with crazy ideas has paid off. PROTOTYPE enters 2026 with strong momentum across its funds and the launch of Fund III. First-round bets power $1B+ in portfolio funding in 2025 All of PROTOTYPE’s current vehicles rank in the global top 1–5 per cent by performance, with: Fund I (2019) at 4.9x MOIC (Multiple on Invested Capital) and 0.95x DPI total capital paid in,   The Growth Fund (2022) at 5.6x MOIC and 2.75x DPI, and Fund II (2022) at 2.4x MOIC. (the latter two figures representing lower-bound estimates as several rounds are currently closing). In 2025 alone, PROTOTYPE’s first-round-focused portfolio raised well over $1 billion, with the firm backing 15 European startups, primarily in robotics, automation, and physical or frontier AI. Against this backdrop, Fund III closed in record time and was upsized by 25 per cent due to strong demand from a predominantly European LP base of family offices, founders, and operators. And, in an unusual example of radical transparency, PROTOTYPE publishes all its fund updates and builds in public. “I only invest if I want to talk about this problem for 10 years” Fund III embodies a portfolio situated at the frontier of automation, robotics and deeptech. So, where does Klinger place his bets? Simply put, he’s looking for founders obsessed with their ideas, not people who spreadsheet their way into a market.” He asserts: “I want people who cannot stop thinking about their problem. People who work on it even if nobody is paying them yet. I also need to be genuinely excited myself. I can’t fake interest. If I’m not intellectually and emotionally engaged, the founder will feel it immediately. I only want to work with people where I think: "I would love to spend the next ten years talking about this problem with you.” According to Klinger, some of their most interesting investments came from people who were just obsessively building something "because it had to exist,” not because the market spreadsheet said it should." If you’re working on something hard, technically ambitious, and slightly insane, we’re interested.” Prototype Capital’s portfolio comprises a broad set of early-stage technology startups pushing the frontier of automation, deep tech, developer tools, and hardware-enabled innovation. It includes: Hyperdrives, a deeptech company developing mass-producible, high-performance electric drive systems with advanced cooling technology for industrial-scale electrification applications and the autonomous tractor market, Voltrac. Check out our earlier interview with Hyperdrives' CEO Robin Renz. There’s robotics and autonomy startups like Sunrise Robotics, Rollo Robotics, Isembard,  and Sensmore autonomous mining machines, and HIGHCAT reconnaissance drones. On the software and AI side, the fund backs multimodal and AI tooling ventures like LUMA, Dust, and DX, as well as developer and infrastructure platforms such as ZED, Fly.io, and Cal.com. There’s also connectivity innovation like Willo wireless charging technology. The value of thematic focus Klinger attributes part of the firm’s success to being thematically focused, not just  in investment strategy, but also in branding around that theme to create a synergistic effect between the portfolio companies: “For example, Fund III is mainly robotics and automation, because that’s what we’ve been investing in over the last two years. That means, in practice, we can literally introduce companies to each other where they actually need each other. There’s real cross-pollination.” It's a practice he recommends to smaller VCs; however, he notes, “You need genuine competence in the theme. The focus has to be real.” Luma AI was the standout performer in PROTOTYPE’s portfolio over the past year, marking the second company in the fund’s history to cross a billion-dollar valuation. “They started with video AI models and are now building multimodal world models – video combined with other sensors, text, and physics. They’re basically creating systems that can ingest any kind of data. It’s a true frontier lab,” he said. What particularly impresses Klinger is the founding team's mindset. “When you talk to them, you don’t get the feeling they’re trying to build ‘better software’. They say the job is to build the thing after the software. That’s a very particular kind of founder – a bit crazy in a good way. And now imagine that with a billion-dollar balance sheet.” From a performance perspective, Klinger describes Luma as “easily the biggest success of last year” for the fund. At the same time, he notes that rapid scale can be a double-edged sword. He admits that, as an early-stage investor, he's always a bit nervous when companies grow very big, very fast. "I’ve worked in hyper-growth companies before. Raising huge amounts of capital can also be dangerous – it can make companies explode.” However, he is confident that Luma’s growth has been both measured and sustainable. “They’ve grown into this scale over several years and are actually very capital-disciplined compared to other AI frontier labs. For some of those, a billion dollars is basically a seed round. So with Luma, I’m actually quite confident.” Why robotics, automation, and simulation now define the cutting edge The last few years have seen a shift in terms of frontier tech. Klinger asserts that in 2019, developer tooling was leading frontier tech. “Then it was AI models. Now it’s physical AI: robotics, automation, simulation, embodied intelligence. What excites me personally is that the frontier has moved into areas I care deeply about: robotics, hardware, and industrial systems. It makes my job much more fun.” When it comes to robotics, Klonger cites the importance of breakthroughs in perception and reasoning. “On the perception side, computer vision has leapfrogged. You can take an image, turn it into a video, reconstruct a 3D world from that video, simulate that world, and then train systems inside the simulation. That loop is insane. Ten years ago, this would have sounded like science fiction. On the reasoning side, systems are no longer completely rigid. Classic industrial robotics only works if everything is in exactly the same place every time. That makes automation expensive and inflexible.” The result is robots that can deal with variation: slightly different objects, slightly different positions, and dynamic environments. They can learn tasks, generalise, and repeat them. According to Klinger, this enables something that was previously basically impossible: small-batch manufacturing automation. He sees this as critical for Europe because most European manufacturing is not mass automotive production: "It’s small batch and constantly changing. Until very recently, robotics didn’t work there. Now it does.” Image: Sunrise Robotics.  An example in the Prototype portfolio is Sunrise Robotics, a Ljubljana-based industrial robotics startup founded in 2023. The company builds intelligent, autonomous robotic cells that combine dual robot arms, advanced perception, and AI trained through simulation rather than hand programming. This enables rapid deployment and flexibility across diverse manufacturing environments. Unlike traditional factory robots, which take months to install and only work in high-volume production lines. The startup emerged from stealth in 2025 with a significant seed round led by Plural, with participation from Seedcamp, Tapestry, Tiny.vc and PROTOTYPE, and has already deployed early units with partners across Europe. An activist investor for Europe’s tech sovereignty Klinger’s role as an investor is underpinned by a relentless commitment to scrutinise the state of European tech. I won’t mention too much about EU-Inc, as you can check out some of our earlier commentary, He celebrates European tech, champions its startups, and lobbies politicians. He’s outspoken about Europe’s opportunity and the need for technological sovereignty. When it comes to robotics, Klinger contends that Europe has made a massive strategic mistake by selling core industrial assets and supply chains, especially in robotics, to China. “Once supply chains move, they don’t come back. Network effects lock them in. Robotics is one of the last areas where Europe still has deep industrial ecosystems, mainly because of automotive and machinery. If we lose that, rebuilding will be almost impossible.” It's a timely warning. Last year marked a major blow to European independence with ABB selling its Robotics division to SoftBank Group and Arduino acquired by Qualcomm. That’s why Fund III is so focused on vertical robotics, automation, and their supplier ecosystems. Not just software, but motors, sensors, power electronics, manufacturing processes – the whole stack. He warns that if those capabilities leave Europe, “then even European startups will have to build in Asia because that’s where the networks are. And once that happens, you’re done.” Beyond the hype of humanoid robotics When asked about the surge of interest in humanoid robotics, Klinger offers both a bear case and a bull case. On the downside, he argues, “if I know exactly what task I want to solve, a purpose-built machine will almost always be cheaper, more reliable, and better. I don’t want a humanoid in my bathroom washing my clothes with two hands – I want a washing machine. Building an artificial human just to replicate a single appliance is insane in terms of complexity and cost.” For most stable, clearly defined tasks, he adds, specialised machines will continue to win. The upside, however, lies in flexibility and scale. The first element is what Klinger calls the “last-step problem.” “In many industrial processes, you can automate 90 per cent per cent with specialised machines, but the final 10 per cent still requires flexibility, dexterity, or problem-solving in an unstructured environment. Suddenly, you need a human anyway. At that point, instead of buying three different robots and still needing a person, it might make sense to have one generalist system that can do the whole chain.” The second argument is an analogy with consumer technology. “A digital camera is better than the camera in my phone. A walkie-talkie is better at communication. A GPS device is better at navigation. But I already have an iPhone. It’s good enough at all of them, and it benefits from massive economies of scale. So you build apps on top of it.” Hacker houses, real hardware, failing fast, and next-gen founders Klinger sees hacker culture as critical to building a frontier-tech pipeline in Europe. He asserts that Europe needs more  self-selecting spaces for “highly technical, slightly crazy people: hacker houses, robotics clubs, student labs, informal research groups.” “These places produce more outliers than most heavily funded government programmes, because they are driven by intrinsic motivation, not grants. People work nights and weekends because they love it, not because it’s in a project plan.I’ve seen this in Austria, in Armenia, in parts of Germany. When you put young people into environments where they can build real hardware, real software, real systems – and you let them fail and try again – you get extraordinary results.” Backing makers of tech that “shouldn’t exist but must exist” In terms of outreach, PROTOTYPE, like most investors, prefers warm introductions, but his public presence means it's easier to get on his radar compared to some other investors. Klinger stressed:  "Talk to us even if you’re not sure your idea is a company yet. Especially in robotics, automation, energy, space, and physical AI – many of the best companies start as “this probably shouldn’t exist, but it has to exist.” PROTOTYPE wants to change the innovation narrative. Klinger asserts that while Europe has talent, science, and the requisite industrial base, it often lacks the confidence and coherent storytelling around frontier technology. “World-class robotics, automation, hardware, and physical AI can be built here – and that they don’t have to move to the US or China to become global leaders. Fund III focuses on reindustrialisation, robotics, automation, and sovereignty-relevant technologies. But beyond capital, it’s also about changing how people perceive what’s possible in Europe. There is a generation of founders here who are deeply technical, deeply obsessed, and building extraordinary things. Our job is to back them early, provide the network they need, and ensure they can scale without leaving the continent.”

Vanagon Ventures, a German deeptech venture capital firm, has reached the final close of its €20 million Fund I. The fund is backed by Allocator One, alongside additional limited partners including family offices and high-net-worth individuals, senior technology executives from companies such as Apple and Google, and unicorn founders from the Munich ecosystem. Vanagon Ventures is further supported by the law firms Orbit and Bird & Bird and fund administrator ACE Alternatives. Based in Munich, the fund focuses on backing B2B startups at the pre-seed stage that address system-level challenges and develop new categories enabled by AI and deeptech. Vanagon Ventures was established to support companies that follow development paths beyond traditional software-as-a-service models, targeting founders with deep domain expertise in established industries who apply advanced technologies to re-architect these systems from the ground up. The strategy addresses a gap in early-stage venture capital, particularly at the pre-seed level, where AI-native and deeptech companies with significant long-term economic potential often require different scaling approaches than conventional software businesses. Vanagon typically invests up to €500,000 initially in teams developing technologies that contribute to Europe’s sovereignty and sustainability, with a focus on areas such as spatial and artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, and frontier software addressing large, long-term markets. AI changes everything – also VC investing: the steepest value creation is shifting to the earliest stages, our sweet spot. Yet many VCs shy away from pre-seed as they still rely on SaaS playbooks that don’t fit the scaling logic of DeepTech and AI-native disruption in B2B, said Susanne Fromm, General Partner at Vanagon Ventures. Vanagon Ventures is managed by three General Partners, Axel Roitzsch, Sandro Stark, and Susanne Fromm, who bring combined experience in venture investing and technology-driven transformation across multiple industries. The fund frequently acts as a first institutional or lead investor, supporting portfolio companies with follow-on fundraising through its network and providing hands-on support in areas such as round structuring, go-to-market strategy, and customer access. Fund I is targeting a portfolio of approximately 30 companies and has already invested in several early-stage businesses positioned as category builders, including Holy Technologies, ExoMatter, and The Landbanking Group. Additional investments span areas such as glass-based data storage for long-term, sustainable archiving, AI-powered visual inspection for manufacturing quality control, and AI-driven demand forecasting for the chemical and textile industries.

CoolSem Technologies, a semiconductor thermal management company, has closed a pre-seed funding round led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), with participation from KBC Focus Fund NV, the Brabant Development Agency (BOM), and TTT Green Tech B.V. (SHIFT Invest). As chips become an increasingly critical resource, pressure on raw materials is rising, and heat management remains a persistent constraint on performance. CoolSem Technologies aims to address these challenges by improving energy efficiency, extending hardware lifetimes, and enabling the reuse of scarce materials, supporting a more sustainable and circular semiconductor industry. Founded in 2025 and headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, CoolSem Technologies develops wafer-level thermal management solutions for advanced semiconductor and photonic devices. Its WaLTIS multilayer stack replaces conventional substrates with an engineered structure designed to improve heat dissipation, mechanical stability, and device reliability, enabling higher performance and longer device lifetimes. Commenting on the funding, CoolSem Technologies’ CEO, André van Geelen, said that thermal constraints are increasingly limiting semiconductor performance, particularly in RF, photonics, and power applications, where traditional materials and packaging approaches are nearing their physical limits. Olaf Joeressen, Senior Investment Manager at HTGF, added that the technology has the potential to become a core component of future chip thermal design, as thermal management becomes ever more critical to semiconductor performance. The company will use the funding to advance its WaLTIS technology from concept to engineering samples, with validation by leading customers in RF, power, and photonics, supporting qualification activities and real-world performance testing.